About maketodayrock.com: We celebrate musicians' birthdays, remember those we've lost, and highlight key moments in music such a release dates, chart peak dates, or anything else tied to a specific date. Pick any day from the menu in the top right. The front page shows recent obituaries.
April 10, 2026 ~ R&B, pop, funk, jazz trumpeter Harry Kim, full name Harry Dixon Kim, passed away ~ Best known for his association with Phil Collins, backing the singer on tour and record for decades starting in the mid 1980s including on albums such as No Jacket Required and But Seriously. Kim is also especially noted for founding and leading the Vine Street Horns, with whom he toured with Collins for the extensive Both Sides world tour, and as bandleader, arranger, and music director of the Phil Collins Big Band performing jazzified versions of Collins' and Genesis's best known. Prior to teaming up with Phil Collins, Kim has appeared on albums by Sérgio Mendes, Le Pamplemousse (Le Spank), Luis Conte, Syl Johnson, Edwin Starr, Gil Scott-Heron, Bobby Womack, and David Byrne, and was a member of the Phenix Horns with whom he backed Earth Wind & Fire. Other notable associations include Brian Wilson, Rodney Friend, José Feliciano, David Benoit, Candi Sosa, Zachary Breaux, Herb Alpert, and Johnny Hallyday. Kim has also led and arranged horn sections for TV shows such as American Idol, America's Got Talent, and Celebrity Duets ~ Kim was born in 1951April 10, 2025 ~ Antonino LoTempio, commonly known as singer, clarinetist, saxophonist, actor Nino Tempo, passed away in West Hollywood, California, USA ~ Won his first talent contest at age 4, and appeared on TV with Benny Goodman at age 7. As a child actor, Tempo notably appeared in the 1949 drama film The Red Pony and the 1954 biopic The Glenn Miller Story. Tempo would go on to become an in-demand session musician, appearing on albums by Bobby Darin, Nancy Sinatra (How Does That Grab You), Linda Ronstadt, Herb Alpert, Kinky Friedman, John Lennon (Rock 'n Roll), Elkie Brooks, Kenny Rankin, Jim Krueger, Lisa Hartman, and Bernadette Peters. To pop audiences, Tempo is perhaps best known for forming the duo Nino Tempo & April Stevens with his sister April Stevens, the siblings scoring a 1963 Billboard Hot 100 charttopper with Deep Purple, and for fronting 1970s outfit 5th Ave Sax with whom he scored the modest 1973 hit Sister James. As a songwriter, Tempo is known for writing or co-writing All Strung Out and I Can't Go On Living Without You Baby, both first recorded by the sibling duo, and Teach Me Tiger which would become a signature song for April Stevens ~ LoTempio was born in 1935
April 10, 2021 ~ Producer Bob Porter passed away in Northvale, New Jersey, USA ~ Studio wizzard responsible for remastering and reissuing hundreds of classic jazz, blues, and R&B recordings by the likes of Duke Ellington, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Ray Charles, and Richard Groove Holmes. Porter has also worked as a radio host and editor for magazines such as Down Beat and Cashbox ~ Porter was born in 1940
April 10, 2021 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer, label executive Quinton Claunch, full name Quinton Mavis Claunch, passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Befriended Sam Phillips in the late 1940s and sessioned on several of early Sun Records recordings, backing artists such as Carl Perkins, Charlie Feathers and Wanda Jackson. Co-wrote Daydreamin' for Bud Deckelman, later a hit for country singer Jimmy C Newman. Co-founded Hi-Records in the 1950s. Co-founded Goldwax Records in the 1960s, specializing in Southern soul and gospel ~ Claunch was born in 1921
April 10, 2020 ~ Jazz bassist Jymie Merritt passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Worked in jazz, R&B, blues and rock & roll. Active since the early 1950s, starting with Bull Moose Jackson and BB King. Perhaps best known for his stint with Art Blakey from 1957 through 1962, forming the core of Blakey's ensemble the Jazz Messengers alongside Benny Golson and Bobby Timmons including on the acclaimed Moanin' album. Also present on albums by the likes of Curtis Fuller, Wayne Shorter, Max Roach, Wild Bill Davis, Jimmy Smith (Stay Loose), and Lee Morgan. Merritt's son Mike Merritt is also a bassist, playing jazz and blues ~ Merritt was born in 1926
April 10, 2019 ~ Singer, songwriter Earl Thomas Conley passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ One of the most popular country artists of the 1980s, scoring more hits than Alabama or Ronnie Milsap. Throughout the 1970s Conley recorded but to little success. Did write hits for others though, including Conway Twitty and Mel Street. Conley scored his first Country Top 40 single, Dreamin's All I Do, in 1979 and would start entering the Top 10 within two years, starting with Silent Treatment in 1980 and Fire & Smoke in 1981. For the remainder of the decade nearly every Conley single would top the US Country charts. All but one, namely Too Many Times, a duet with the Pointer Sisters member Anita Pointer which peaked at No.2. Over the course of his career Conley worked extensively with producer Nelson Larkin, songwriter Randy Scruggs, and has collaborated with Emmylou Harris, Keith Whitley and Blake Shelton ~ Conley was born in 1941April 10, 2018 ~ Singer Yvonne Staples passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Manager and occasional member of the Staple Singers, replacing her brother during his time in the Army and again, briefly, in 1970. As a singer, Staples is present on the band's best known album, Be Altitude (Respect Yourself), which included their biggest hit singles Respect Yourself and I'll Take You There. The latter would reach the No.1 spot on both the Billboard R&B and all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts ~ Staples was born in 1937
April 10, 2013 ~ James Henry Dawkins, commonly known as Chicago blues, electric blues guitarist, singer Jimmy Dawkins, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Debuted in 1969 with Fast Fingers and has released albums steadily since. Backed on tour and record by musicians such as Andrew Odom, Otis Rush, Jon Preizler, James Solberg, Jimi Schutte, Sylvester Boines, Rich Kirch, and Billy Flynn ~ Dawkins was born in 1936April 10, 2010 ~ Actress, singer Dixie Carter, full name Dixie Vriginia Carter, passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Made her stage debut in a 1960 production of Carousel, her Broadway debut in the 1974 musical Sextet. Best known for her roles on TV, notably the sitcom Designing Women, the drame series Family Law and as guest actress on Desperate Housewives, receiving a 2007 Emmy Award for the latter ~ Carter was born in 1939
April 10, 2007 ~ Jazz singer Dakota Staton passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for her single The Late Late Show, a hit in 1957 and title track of her acclaimed debut album of the same name. Staton recorded prolifically into the late 1960s, sporadically into the 2000s. She recorded her most acclaimed albums during the late 1950s and early 1960s, notably In The Night and Dynamic both released in 1958, and the live album Dakota At Storyville released in 1962 ~ Staton was born in 1930
April 10, 2003 ~ Eva Narcissus Boyd, commonly known as singer Little Eva, passed away in Kinston, North Carolina, USA ~ Babysitter for Gerry Goffin and Carole King, known for her 1962 novelty hit The Loco-motion. Boyd would then be given lesser material and only scored a handful of modest follow-up hits including Keep Your Hands Off My Baby, Let's Turkey Trot and Swinging On A Star ~ Boyd was born in 1943
April 10, 2001 ~ Singer, pianist Alicia Keys releases Fallin', lead single off her Songs In A Minor debut album ~ Written and produced solely by Alicia Keys, her debut single would be an international success and catapult the singer to fame. Fallin' reached top 10 across the globe, including No.1 positions in the Netherlands and the USA, receive critical acclaim, and earn Keys three Grammy Awards including Song of the Year. Keys would later comment on the lyrics: “The song is about the ins and outs of a relationship. Sometimes, you're completely head-over-heels in love with someone, and sometimes you can't stand that person. You fall in and out, sometimes it goes back and forth, and that's just what relationships are about.”April 10, 1990 ~ Jane Awindor, commonly known as singer, songwriter, actress Efya, born in Kumasi, Ghana ~ First gained attention as contestant on the Stars Of The Future talent contest, reaching 2nd place and subsequently landing a record deal. Released the Unveiled album, a collaborative album with the show's winner Irene Logan, in 2009. Would continue to perform and record a number of mixtapes, leading up to her full-length Janesis debut album in 2016
April 10, 1990 ~ Country, country pop singer, songwriter Maren Morris, full name Maren Larae Morris, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Member of Highwomen, which also includes Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires and Natalie Hemby. As a solo artist known for her 2016 Hero major label debut. Well known songs include My Church, 80s Mercedes and Rich
April 10, 1989 ~ New wave, pop rock outfit the Simple Minds release This Is Your Land, lifted off their Street Fighting Years album ~ A commentary on environmental issues, This Is Your Land would reach top 10 in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Ireland, and peak at No.13 in the band's native UK. Lou Reed, a hero of the band, guested on backing vocals. Lead singer Jim Kerr would later recall to Songfacts: “I was terrified because I'd also heard these stories, and you could see he had that look. If anyone had told you he was difficult, it wouldn't have been hard to imagine, just by his look. And so, I was terrified. But, in fact, he couldn't have been sweeter”
April 10, 1987 ~ Country singer George Strait releases All My Ex's Live In Texas, lifted off his Ocean Front Property album ~ Widely regarded as one of George Strait's best songs, All My Ex's Live In Texas tells of a man who has lived most of his life in Texas and how a string of failed relationships has caused him to flee to Tennessee. The song would reach No.1 both in Canada and on the American Billboard Country charts, as well as earn the singer a Grammy Award nomination. All My Ex's Live In Texas was written by Whitey Shafer and Lyndia J Shafer. Strait had previously scored a Billboard Country No.1 hit with Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind, another song co-written by Whitey Shafer. Other artists who recorded songs written or co-written by Shafer include the Osborne Brothers, Lefty Frizzell (I Never Go Around Mirrors), Faron Young, Johnny Rodriguez, Ed Bruce, Moe Bandy (Bandy The Rodeo Clowen), Jerry Lee Lewis, Merle Haggard, and Keith Whitley
April 10, 1987 ~ Indie folk, folk rock singer, guitarist, banjoist, pianist, bassist, songwriter Will Stratton born in Yolo County, California, USA ~ Influenced by Nick Drake, Sufjan Stevens, John Fahey, Leo Kottke. Over half a dozen albums to his name, starting with What The Night Said released in 2007. Especially acclaimed for his 2021 The Changing Wilderness albumApril 10, 1986 ~ Songwriter Linda Creed, full name Linda Diane Creed, passed away in Ambler, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Frequent songwriting partner of Thom Bell, penning some of the finest soul songs of the 1970s. Artists who have recorded their songs include George Benson (The Greatest Love Of All), Johnny Mathis, the Stylistics (You Make Me Feel Brand New), the Spinners (Ghetto Child), Teddy Pendergrass (Hold Me), Phyllis Hyman, Johnny Gill, and Little Anthony & the Imperials ~ Creed was born in 1948
April 10, 1984 ~ Drone, noise, experimental, ambient, synth-pop singer, songwriter Anders Brørby born in Jevnaker, Norway ~ Influential sound artist in Norway's experimental scene. Co-founding member of progressive, psychedelic rock band Radiant Frequency
April 10, 1984 ~ Amanda Leigh Moore, commonly kknown as pop, dance-pop, folk rock, country singer, songwriter, actress Mandy Moore, born in Nasha, New Hampshire, USA ~ Debuted in 1999 with the album So Real and has recorded steadily since. As a singer best known for I Wanna Be With You, a modest hit in 2000
April 10, 1983 ~ Indie pop, indie rock, baroque pop singer Andrew Dost, full name Andrew Paul Dost, born in Cass City, Michigan, USA ~ Member of Anathallo from 2003 through 2007. Rose to prominence as member of indie rock band .fun, known best for the hits We Are Young featuring Janelle Monáe, Some Nights and Carry On all taken of the band's 2012 Some Nights sophomore album
April 10, 1982 ~ In its 13th week on the charts, Big City by Merle Haggard hits No.1 Billboard Country ~ After a two-day recording session in Los Angeles, Merle Haggard went outside to check on his bus driver and childhood friend Dean Holloway who had been waiting in the hot vehicle for hours. When Haggard asked him how he was doing, Holloway replied he was tired of this old dirty city and he'd rather be in Montana. The conversation inspired Haggard who went back into the studio and told the band, who were already packing it up, to stay and record one more song before he forgot the melody. Within an hour, they had recorded Big City. Haggard would credit Holloway as co-writer and split the royalties 50/50, earning the bus driver some half a million dollars. In 1994, the song would be notably covered by folk singer Iris DeMent, which sollicited Haggard to comment: “If I were a girl, I'd probably sing like that, or at least I'd try. She didn't sound like one of the slick girls of today”
April 10, 1980 ~ Alternative rock bassist, singer Bryce Soderberg, full name Bryce Dane Soderberg, born in Victoria, Canada ~ Member of Lifehouse, joining the band in 2004 as replacement for original bassist Sergio Andrade. First appeared on the band's eponymopus Lifehouse, their third studio album which included the moderate hit You And Me. Co-wrote and sings lead on Wrecking Ball of their 2010 Smoke & Mirrors album
April 10, 1980 ~ Joseph Rosenberg, commonly known as gypsy jazz guitarist Jimmy Rosenberg, born in Helmond, the Netherlands ~ Child prodigy. Guitar virtuoso. Worked with the Gypsy Kids, Johnny Rosenberg, Rinus Steinbach, the Hot Club de Norvege, Ola Kvernberg, Stian Carstensen, Romane, Jon Larsen, Andreas Oberg, Biréli Lagrène, Angelo Debarre, Frank Vignola, and Willie Nelson
April 10, 1980 ~ Kendall Payne Tschudi, commonly known as singer, songwriter Kendall Payne, born in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Actively recording since her late teens, releasing her Jordan's Sister debut album in 1999. Had a number of her songs used in film and TV series, such as Closer To Myself in the romantic comedies Never Been Kissed and Someone Like You and Scratch and I Will Show You Love in Grey's Anatomy